Madison times., 1887-01-01
Heron's Nest.
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY.
CHAPTER x.

| CHAPTER K
We looked each other steadily in the face
In her eyes there were anger, irritation. and
curiosity; in mine-I felt it-there was poyer
For the first time we met as social EQUALS: bu,
l must not say so. Then she glanced at the
white bundle in my arms
What have you been doing up stairs.n she
asked. II sent for you some time since, and
was told that you had been in the lumber
rooms all the afternoon. What have you been
doing' l do not know what may be there.
and l do not like any person to 90 prying
about the house asyou have done"
l looked at her In wonder. 1t was of NV
house she was speaking; the house aud all ii
contained, were mine, Eot hers; but for Sir
Adrian's sake must not proclaim it. saw
that her anger was at a white heat. In all
probability Lady Aditha had been speaking of
me again, and irritating her against me-
"What have you been doing in those
roomsl" she demanded
Il went first to look for nv box since your
ladyship has decided to send me from the only
home l have in the world could not find it;
but have been looking over the contents of
| the rooms.n
IAN exceedingly impertinent thing, You
had no right to do anything of the kind" she
said angriy
What would she say" ] thought, '1f she
knew what l had found there-if she knew
what l had wrapped in apparently careless
fashion in my apronl What fall her pride
would have" And l could not prevent the
exultation l felt from showing Itself in nv
eyes. She saw it, and grew even more curl
Gus.
"What have you therep she demanded.
Il decline to tell you, Lady Caryl," an
swered firmly. Il. is something that belongs
not to you, but to myself"
You have taken it from those roomsr, she
cried.
II have; but it is my own," 1 returned
calmly.
Nothing here is your own," she said hotly,
her face growing pale with anger; everything
belongs to me. You have no right to carry
from this house a single thing without nv
permission"
Involuntarily my hands closed round nv
white apron and its contents | knew that 1
was going to destroy the papers; but for those
few minutes l felt proud of the knowledge
that was mistress of the house and all it con-
tanned
''Will you let me pass, Lady CarylS
NO" she exclaimed; you shall not pass
until know what you have there wrapped up
in your apron"
Then shall have to stay here for ever, or
shall show what have to no one."
You will show it to me-" she said, biting
her lip.
/ paused for Q few moments to consider the
position. 1t would indeed serve her right to
let her see the papers; and for q moment the
temptation to show them to her was strong:
but had resolved to make the sacrifice for nv
lovers sake.
Il have no wish to threaten or to use yio-
lence," her ladyship went on more calmly;
"but will see what you have there. II you
refuse to show me, 1 shall send for the butler
and one Of the footmen, and they shall take
it from you"
or course she could do that, and In the
hands of two strong men 1 should be power
less They would take the documents from
me in an instant and then All, my love
with the bonnie blue eyes, that should never
be! clasped the little parcel more tightly.
Lady Caryl" implored, ''be just to me.
l swear to you that what have here belongs
to me, and to no one else. Please let me pass
and go free. l will leave the house, and never
return"
But she would not listen to my appeal I
saw that she was debating in her mind whether
she should take my parcel from me by force or
not, but evidently her sense Of propriety cou-
quered.
ct drx-fn hat
there" she said, knitting her brows. "~hoose
at once. l shall either call the men or you
must give to me of your own free will what
you have hidden there"
THAT will never do" returned resoIute-
ly.
"Come down to my ROOM" said Lady Caryl
81 do not see why 1 should
stand in this draught Go before me to my
boudoir."
And obeyed her. All, what would she
have said had she known what carried in my
apronl
We went into the boudour, and then she
closed the door.
''Put what you have in your hands upon the
table, F" she commanded
/ declined to do So
II intend to see what It Il" said Lady Caryl |
irmly.
And firmly declared she should not
Was it . good or an evil spirit that led Sir |
Adrian TO the door Just at that momentf
Can l speak to you, motherp he asked. |
" will not detain you long"
'Come in," she answered 81 am glad to |
,ee you, Adrian"
He looked with wonder from her to me, and |
hen at the white bundle in my arms.
''What Is it!" be asked hurriedly ''What |
Is the matter with you and Gracia motherp' |
Adrian said Lady Caryl, II shall be glad |
4 you will support my authority I have
made arrangements for Gracia to 60 to Miss |
at Heronsdale. For many reasons I |
10 not think IL advisable that she should re-
main here. Lady Aditha has been speaking |
% me about 1t, and she Is of the same
1pinion.n
To my great surprise, he muttered something
'bout Lady Aditha that was not at all compli-
nentary.
Il told Gracia, to-day" her ladyship went
IN, that I wished her to pack up and GO
Under the pretext of seeking for box, she
las spent the whole of this afternoon in the |
and it seems TO me that she has
AIKEN what she liked from them
"Ah, thank Heaven, his face flushed with
niger at the cruel words! Then his eyes were
uned with infinite tenderness On me.
Mother, you cannot possibly know what
'ou are saying" he cried
II do" she returned stiffy. '-Gracia has